The Car Wash Show™ keynote speaker for 2013 is…
LAS VEGAS — The International Carwash Association® announced that the keynote speaker for The Car Wash Show™ 2013 is Earvin “Magic” Johnson.
A Jan. 16 website posting stated that attendees of the show here on April 22-24 will be able to hear Johnson speak about his successes both in business and sports.
During his 13-year NBA career, he won five NBA national championships, played in 12 NBA All-Star Games and won a gold medal as part of the 1992 Olympic basketball team. After his playing career, Johnson became a business success.
Currently, Johnson’s business portfolio includes a variety of industries such as professional baseball, a multicultural media company, real estate and a television network.
The Car Wash Show attendees will have the chance to ask Johnson questions during his presentation.
Carwash owner appointed to the state House of Representatives
KAHULUI, HI ― Gov. Neil Abercrombie has appointed Justin Howard Woodson, who owns Woodson's Eco Auto Wash, to the state House of Representatives seat for District 9, according to a report from the governor's office.
The Jan. 16 report said Woodson will take over the position left vacant by state Sen. Gilbert S.C. Keith-Agaran.
Woodson previously served as a special assistant to state chairman of Hawaii's Democratic Party, and also performed clerical duties for state representatives Tom Bower, Mele Carroll and Sen. Carol Fukunaga. He also served as president of the Young Democrats of Hawaii and was a sub-committee member for the Maui Economic Opportunity Head Start program.
“Justin’s experience as a small business owner and his familiarity with the state Legislature will ensure continued and strong representation for the residents of Maui,” Gov. Abercrombie said in the report.
NJ carwash helps out officer's family
WAYNE, NJ — Jack and Sherrie Saldon, proprietors of Lincoln-Wayne Car Wash, had read about a local teen's efforts to raise money for the family of injured Officer Bob Franco, and decided to also help out and raise money.
Officer Franco was injured during Hurricane Sandy when a tree fell on his police car.
The owners said they saw the story on the news and wanted to help out.
For every $25 carwash gift card purchased, $5 will be donated to Hughes' fundraising efforts. Teenager Hughes had been selling candy canes for $1 each at Wayne Valley High School. He ended up raising over $900.
Hughes said that the fact that Jack and Sherrie are taking out a portion of their profits to support someone close to him is extremely humbling.
Business makes a $500 contribution to local charity
POULSBO, WA — Mike’s Car Wash and Detail contributed a portion of their December carwash proceeds to a local charity here.
Mike’s is a regular contributor to the Poulsbo Lions/Raab Foundation Bellringer Fund. The wash contributed $500 pushing the charity’s campaign total to $29,346.
The charity helps local residents with medical co-pays, gas vouchers, emergency housing, eviction prevention and utility assistance. In addition, the group supplies Christmas food baskets to 100 local families.
The charity was founded in the 1940s as a way for neighbors to help each other during emergencies. The fund helps 300 families a year.
Dirty Harry's will detail emergency vehicles damaged by hurricane
UNION BEACH, NJ ― Former Jersey City Police Officer Harry Sandwith of Dirty Harry’s Detailing will detail 11 emergency vehicles and fire station equipment that was damaged when Hurricane Sandy struck areas of the east coast back in October, a press release reported.
The Jan. 17 press release said Sandwith will be helped by other detailers such as Bob Wiener of Finer Details in West Long Branch, NJ; Darryl Kimmis of Mirror Image Detailing in Rowlett, TX; Michael Pena of Mobile Auto Detail in Houston; and Andrew Swenson of Wolfeboro Carwash and Detailing of New Hampshire.
Cash donations have come in from Renny Doyle of Attention to Details; Bill Quinn of Bill the Buff Man Washington State Detailing; the Long Branch Police Department PBA and SOA; Robert Eichelberg of Flex North America; and Dave Bayless and Doug Parfitt. Detailing materials and supplies have been donated by Jim Stavrinides of Aerolon Performance Coating’s in San Francisco; Robert Regan of Towel Pros California; and Joe Sabo of DRC 1000.
Union Beach Fire Chief Rob LaBerta stated in the press release, “We have four fire stations and over sixty firefighters in Union Beach. Three of the four fire stations were completely flooded and they require reconstruction both inside and out. Furthermore, of the 6,800 Union Beach residents, over 3,300 were displaced as a result of the storm, and many of them still have not found permanent housing.”
Semi-truck crashes into carwash
WEST JORDAN, UT ― A semi-truck crashed into a carwash here, breaking a natural gas line, and forcing the carwash to be evacuated.
The truck swerved to avoid a car that turned into its path and jack-knifed while at an intersection. The incident occurred around 7:30 p.m. on a Monday night.
The driver of the truck, which was hauling building materials, suffered minor injuries.
The carwash is attached to a gas station and c-store. Those businesses, as well as others surrounding the carwash, were also evacuated and the gas was shut off.
Car cleaner uses Twitter to demand payment
NEWCASTLE, ENGLAND — A car cleaner took to Twitter to urge soccer player Demba Ba to pay his carwash bill.
Lee Donnelly, who is part of LJD Valet, alleged Ba had his car cleaned before signing a new agreement to play for the Chelsea soccer team. When Ba headed to London, Donnelly claims he was never paid the 40 pounds for the cleaning.
Taking advantage of the hashtag #AskBa Twitter chat, Donnelly tweeted, “are you ever gonna pay me the £40 for valeting ur car? take it as a no as u moved away.”
Ba’s move to the new soccer team will reportedly make him 7 million pounds. In his second tweet, Donnelly said, “the money u owe me is 0.0001% of ur daily wage sort it out ba.”
Criminal complaint filed against CA carwash
SANTA MONICA, CA ― A wage theft charge has been made against the Wilshire West Car Wash LLC and its parent company Maxxam Enterprises III, LLC. by the California Labor Commissioner and the Santa Monica City Consumer Protection Unit, a press release reported.
The Jan. 23 press release stated that the Labor Commission started investing the carwash and Owner Mehdi Soroudi, General Manager Gary Pendleton, and supervisors Rigoberto Torres and Remberto Viramonte, last June.
"Wage theft hurts workers, honest employers, and the honest tax payer," Department of Industrial Relations Director Christine Baker stated in the press release. "California's Division of Labor Standards Enforcement plays a critical role in enforcing labor laws and preventing wage theft. Employers who deny the workers their pay will be held accountable."
California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su said the criminal charges filed send a strong message to employers who engage in wage theft. "Our office initially investigated Wilshire West Car Wash and saw the myriad ways workers were being cheated out of the pay they were entitled to, and the schemes utilized to cover up the wage theft such as off-the-clock work and falsified records. I am proud that we were able to bring these abuses to light and now to work with the Santa Monica City Attorney's office to prosecute them," Su stated in the press release.
Those charged are accused of altering employee time records and creating false time records; failing to give the workers a paid rest period or meal break; and then forcing workers to sign statements stating they had received paid breaks. Those charged are also accused of "threatening, harassing and punishing those workers who questioned the illegal actions," according to the press release.
Carwash chain receives "Beyond Green" certification
NASHVILLE, TN ― All 10 Super Speed Wash locations have received "Beyond Green" certification and only use environmentally-friendly chemicals which are free of phosphates, butyls, NPEs and hydrofluoric acid, according to a press release.
The Jan. 24 press release said the chemicals are by Blue Coral Beyond Green.
The exterior express carwash chain "is taking conscious steps toward minimizing the company's impact on the environment. With the help of Blue Coral, the company is able to safeguard the environment while still delivering clean and shiny vehicles, the press release stated.
The chain also was recognized by the WaterSavers initiative for using less than 40 gallons of water per carwash, and locations use reverse osmosis, VFDs and LED lighting fixtures in the tunnels.
Thieves target metal grates at carwashes
GREENEVILLE, TN — Five metal grates were stolen from Blue Springs Car Wash here.
The square metal grates were between 2 feet and 3 feet wide. The grates are worth about $1,000 in total.
A coin-operated vending machine in a Blue Springs’ wash bay was broken into as well. About $100 damage was done to the stainless steel door of the machine.
Two grates worth about $400 were also stolen from Parkway Car Wash earlier in the week, according to a sheriff’s deputy.
Cactus location wins beautification award
DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Keep Douglasville Beautiful gave Cactus Car Wash the Business Beautification award for the first quarter of 2013.
Keep Douglasville Beautiful’s Executive Director, Chan Weeks, said to the press, “We are excited about the transformation of this site from an eye-sore to a beautiful, interesting landscape and thriving business that is also being kept litter-free.”
Weeks said the exterior as well as the interior aesthetics of Cactus Car Wash are a priority to its owners, Nate and Stephanie Smith, and is a welcomed addition to their community.
